At first, he thought the wind had been knocked out of him. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing serious.

Nothing that would cost him the rest of his season.

But eventually, the pain got so bad that Jack Doyle wondered for a few, fleeting moments if this one awkward hit would cost him more.

“It was a crazy deal,” the Colts tight end said Sunday.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Jack Doyle (84) was hit by Miami Dolphins safety T.J. McDonald (22) and linebacker Kiko Alonso (47) in the fourth quarter of their game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday. Doyle signaled he needed to come out of the game after this play.(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)

It won’t – Doyle is recovering just fine, but the blow to the lower back he suffered in the Colts’ late-November win over the Miami Dolphins did cost him the final five games of the year. Doyle was diagnosed with a lacerated kidney, he confirmed, and underwent surgery. He spent two nights in a hospital.

It’s the same injury quarterback Andrew Luck suffered on a gruesome hit against the Denver Broncos midway through the 2015 season, though Luck’s laceration didn’t require surgery. He missed the final seven games of that year.

Doyle said he expects to be ready for the team’s unofficial start to the season in late April when the Colts gather for offseason workouts, but it’s no sure thing. He will take the next few weeks and months slowly, as he heals both his kidney and his hip, which cost him five games earlier in the season.

But with Doyle set to return, the Colts figure to again have one of the most formidable tight end groups in football in 2019. Eric Ebron led all tight ends in football in touchdowns during the regular season, with 13, and reserve Mo Alie-Cox proved his worth in both the passing and blocking game. In Doyle the Colts will regain one of the most consistent and dependable players on the entire roster.

“It’s tough to be hurt, tough to be out,” Doyle said. “Just one of those years. I’ve been fairly lucky in the health department (in the past). Just another challenge ahead. I’m trying to get stronger and better and back out there.”

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Scott Horner, scott.horner@indystar.com